have appear'd some Warm Doctor a Dr. J. S. who from the Text Revel 11. 5. I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his Place except thou repent would have thus pour'd forth the Spirit of Reformation upon them We have no Apprehâ—nsions that either Mahometanism or Pagâ—nism will come into these Kingdoms it is another kind of Removal of our Candlestick that we have reason to fear it is another Religion nigher at hand that is most likely to Displace our Candlestick You all know what Religion I mean it is Popery that most threatens us It is that Restless Busie Religion that has made so much Disturbance in Christendom that has always been and is still so Active by all Means Just or Vnjust by Fraud or Force to insinuate it self into all Places It is this we ought to have most Apprehensions of May God so inspire you that by your Means as effectual Provision as Possible may be made both for the keeping out that Foreign Religion which so little serves the Ends of Christianity and so much disserves the Interâ—st both of King and People and for the more firm Establishment of the Protestant Religion Or in case of this Doctor 's failing would there not have been invited another as Dr. J. T. who would have put the Fathers in mind That it is believ'd by many and not without cause that the Pope and his Faction are the Antichrist That Popery is as bad or worse than Infidelity That the Old Heathen Philosophers were better Teachers of Religion than the Papists That Tully Plutarch and Seneca were much Honester and more Christian Casuists than any that I know of in the Church of Rome That therefore They would make a Lasting Provision for the Security of our Peace and Religion against all the Secret Contrivances and open Attempts of These Sons of Violence Can you think Misrepresenter that Popery having thus overspread the Earth the Light of the Gospel being obscur'd as Mr. Napper says upon Revel p. 191. by the Roman Antichrist himself in the Time of these First Four Councils there could be so many Protestants assembled Bishops Divines and others as you say there were in those councils and yet not one word of Encouragement for the rooting out of Popery and filling their Heads with Fears and Jealousies Come for my part I cannot tell how to imagine this possible And therefore unless as you have shewn me what you call the Corruptions of Popery in those Times so you can likewise shew me there were some Means taken for the preventing the Growth of them by those Fathers I shall never bring my Reason to believe that those Fathers were Protestants Misrepres Means I don't question but there were Means us'd for the Redress of those Evils but we are not upon that Point yet You are only speaking of a Sermon Introductory to those Councils Repres Well and can you shew me from any of the Ancient Historians that there were any such Inspiriting Sermons at those Times If you cannot produce any I shall be apt to believe that either the Preachers then were no Protestants or else that the Fathers were none For you and I that know what Protestancy and Popery is must needs conclude so Misrepres You may e'en drop this Point for I don't pin my Faith upon such Sermons I know indeed as the World goes now there are some who cannot hold their Eyes open at a Sermon but when the Thunder of Papist and Popery breaking from the Pulpit awakens them But 't is likely 't was not so in old Times The Christians heretofore I believe had a greater Portion of the Spirit of Peace and Charity they were contented with following their Text and knew to spend their Glass without the help of these Popular Excursions It may be this Modish Divinity is New taken up only since the making a Faction and Party has crept into the Pulpit with the Gospel But what then The Protestant Religion was Anciently Profess'd and I question not the Fathers of those First Councils were Protestants tho' I can produce no Instance of such Parliamentary Sermons as you speak of Repres Thou art Good-natur'd sometimes Misrepresenter and so Ingenuous as to shame the Devil and speak Truth In Return I le let fall this Point and will enquire no farther after Protestant Sermons in those Primitive Times for the Direction of the First Councils We 'll pass over therefore to the Councils themselves and Examine what kind of Christians the Fathers there assembled were Misrepres Yes this will be to the Purpose upon this Point turns the whole weight of the Controversie if it don't appear they were Protestants I must needs own I have deluded many and that I really am what you call me a Misrepresenter Repres Don't you remember I shew'd you at our last Meeting that the Pope and Those Fathers were too well agreed to be Protestants Misrepres Yes yes I have heard this already The Popes were Good Prelates in those Days they had not then the Mark of the Beast in their Forehead and so that Concludes nothing Repres If They had not then the Mark of the Beast 't was because there were then no such things as Protestants to set it on The Popes had at that Time all Christian Churches Subject to them as Mr. Napper confesses upon the Revelations Nay he says that the Pope's Usurpation and Lording it over all Christian Churches began before the Year of Christ 316 which was before the Time even of the First General Council of Nice held An. 325. Now since for this very Vsurpation as they call it the Modern Protestants Luther's Offspring have set Horns upon the Pope and made him Antichrist if he was not so reputed or esteem'd by the First General Councils there being then the same Reason I must needs conclude 't was because they were then no Protestants You your self cannot deny but if Those Protestants who now say that the Antichristian and Papistical Reign began in those Days had They then liv'd and been Protestants would have said the same then as they do now And since instead of such Opprobrious and Infamous Titles the Fathers then shew'd him the highest Respect and Veneration my Reason assures me Those Fathers were no Protestants Misrepres This is nothing but a Dry Repetition and I am weary of it Advance a Step or I le e'en be gone and leave you Gaping without a Witness Repres Let 's proceed then to the Canons and Decrees of those First Councils And here I demand of you Do you find any Canons or Decrees made by the Fathers of those Councils in opposition to the Doctrines and Tenets which you now condemn as Popish Errors but were then Taught and Practis'd Misrepres What Errors do you mean Repres If you remember Calvin Beza Dr. Field Whitaker the Centurists and other Protestant Writers Censure the greatest part of the Primitive Fathers who liv'd either before or in the
almost inevitably detain'd in their Perswasion by the prejudice of Education and an Invincible Ignorance will upon a sincere general Repentance find mercy with God. Misrepresent Enough of this dry reasoning What do you say to a Piece not long since publish'd Wholsome Advices from the Blessed Virgin to her Indiscreet Worshippers which being compos'd by one of your own Perswasion has laid you more open than all your Adversaries could do Come let me tell you the blow that comes from a Friend is the severest and this true Representer has quite blasted all your Representing Characters and Expositions Represent Then I see you intend I should sâ—t up for Reader of Anatomy upon all the Pamphlets that come into the World. I am highly oblig'd to you for the kindness but I think the Scavanger has much tbe better Office who has nothing but Dirt and Sinks to deal with much less offensive than to be always raking in filthy Calumnies fulsome Incongruities and noisome Impertinencies No Misrepresenter I would not undertake it tho I were certain to enlarge my Interest and become as Popular as you have done by your so taking knack of Misrepresenting However to pleasure a Friend as you are I 'll touch at some particulars which seem to fall within my Province of Representing Misrepresent Why I hope there 's no Misrepresenting there you don 't sure do that ill office to one another I thought none but Protestants had been Misrepresenters Represent Yes yes 't is Protestant Misrepresenting I mean to be at As long as it has a Protestant Preface to it never question Misrepresenter but I shall find your finger in it And what think you of the sourth and fiâ—th leaves of the Preface where he sets out the Papist as Weak as Confident as Ridiculous as Foolish as he can well make them are not these Colours of your laying on Misrepresent He do's not assert this barely without giving a Reason for 't He says your pronouncing Damnation against all those that are separated from your Church is an argument of the weakness of your Cause and that your declaring all others to be out of the way of Salvation is only because you are at a loss for other Reasons to convince Mens Vnderstanding and therefore by these Threats and Thunders you work upon their Passions which to considering Men proves nothing more than your own Confidence and Ridiculousness and makes them doubt whether in this you have more of the Fool or the Artist And what Misrepresenting I pray you in this Represent Never more Unreasonable Misrepresenting then when Calumnies are set out with the Colours of Reason You Friend see but with one eye and I fear have that Curse upon you to think even contradictions reasonble so they be but in favour of the Cause you have espous'd He gives a Reason you say for what he says But is it reason or fair dealing in him to load the Papists with the most Ignominious Names and Ridicule them to the Multitude for making such Declarations in reference to such as are out of their Communion which is nothing more than what is done by his own Church nay what he himself do's most solemnly make before he concludes his Preface almost in the same breath with which he so positively declaim'd against the Papist Consider this a little if Considering be not out of thy power The Papists declare that such as separate from the Faith and Communion of their Church sounded by Christ and continued down from the Apostles under a visible Succession of Pastors and Teachers do by that depart from the Truth from the Doctrine and Commands of Christ and consequently are out of the way of Salvation This by the Preface-maker is presently set out for Thundering of Hell and Damnation 't is their Confidence 't is the Weakness of their Cause puts them upon it and for so doing they are void of Charity And yet see how condemning this in the Papists he do's the very same thing himself hear his solemn Profession which he makes in the presence of God the last page of his Preface but one I do here solemnly profess says he in the presence of God that I cannot but conclude the Worship the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome to be so extremely dangerous that nothing but invincible Ignorance of which God only can be judge can give us any reasonable hope of their Salvation who live and die in that Communion Is not here the very same sentence pronounc'd by Protestants a-against the Papist which the Papists declare against the Protestants And yet He that Unchurches the Papists for so doing thinks himself as safe in the very doing of what he condemns that he could venture the Salvation of a thousand Souls if he had them upon the ground on which he stands Pray now tell me how that comes to be so safe so reasonable and secure in Him and his Church which in the Papist he condemns for so Vncharitable and Ridiculous Or how happens it that having dress'd up the Papists in a Fools-coat and afterwards slipping it over his own shoulders he thinks himself to look so Wise and Grave upon 't Come Misrepresenter here 's more of your hand in this Preface then I expect you 'l own if you had net by your malignant influence indispos'd the Author's eye-sight Red and Yellow had been the same Colours to him upon a Protestant-back as upon a Papist Misrepresent Come you wrong the Author by your Misconstructions he do's not say the Papists are damn'd but that their condition is extremely dangerous and this do's not leave them without hope of Salvation Represent 'T is true he 'll allow the Ignorant and Fools of his Communion so much Charity as to think the Papists way he sav'd But for the judicious and learned Protestants who go by Reason who consider and weigh things no such Charity in them there 's no Reasonable hope says he of their Salvation who live and die in that Communion of the Papists So that if any are so Charitable amongst the Protestants 't is for want of being advis'd for want of being better instructed in their Religion 't is for want of being like those that Guide 'em for want of Reason for there 's no Reasonable hope says he of their Salvation no reasonable hope at all unless it be for such of them whose invincible Ignorance will excuse them And is not this the very same which is most frankly allow'd the Protâ—stants by the Papists who after they have been proclaim'd so often to the gaping Crowds for most Vncharitable Damners Thunderers of Hell and Damnation against the poor Protestants do not advance their damnation one ace farther against them then the Protestants themselves most solemnly in the presence of God and after good consideration do against the Papists There being no Papist but what will grant such Protestants hopes of Salvation who living piously and repenting sincerely of all offences through invincible
upon the same grounds turn Christianity out of doors and own it to be built on no better foundation than the Ignorant Zeal and Confidence of its Asserters The Motive of St. Augustin for his embracing the Scriptures for the Word of God was the Authority of the Catholic Church he expresly declaring cont Ep. Fundam That he would not believe the Gospel except the Authority of the Catholic Church mov'd him to it From this same Authority it is he receives every Article of his Faith and since in his very Creed he is taught to believe the Holy Catholic Church he thinks he has Reason enough to do it And whosoever taxes him of Weakness or Confidence for so doing do's nothing less than call him a Fool for believing his Creed and this is only one Remove from telling him that if he 'll be Wise and have good Reasons for what he do's he must be no Christian Others may be so Wise as to believe only Eleven Articles of their Creed for his part he thinks it no reflection upon his Wisdom to believe Twelve he was taught so many when he was a Child and he do's not find he has outgrown any one of the number This Catholic Church which by the Creed every Christian is bound to believe is as was explicated in our last the Congregation of all true Believers under the Government and Direction of Pastors and Teachers in an uninterrupted Succession descending from the Apostles who by Gods appointment are set over the Flock to feed and rule it and whom the Flock is oblig'd to hear and obey and whose Faith they are bound to follow in each respective Age. 'T is thus deliver'd to him by St. Paul Heb. 13. 7 17. Remember them which have the Rule over you whose Faith follow Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves And this way of the Faithful receiving their Instruction in the Christian Belief from the Catholic Church speaking to them by the Pastors and Teachers of the said Church which is the Method he observes as to every Article of his Faith has been always look'd on so sound and reasonable that in the time of the very Apostles and of the Primitive Church there was never any us'd but this 't was by this means the World first became Christian and by the very same Orthodox Christianity has been always preserv'd in its vigour and purity notwithstanding all the oppositions of Subtle Malicious or Self-interested Adversaries He that has but read the Scriptures cannot but have observ'd that the Method prescrib'd by Cbrist himself for the planting and propagating the Mysteries of his Holy Faith in the World was by ordaining and commissionating Apostles and Disciples to inform all Mankind of his Doctrine and Religion and the only Reasonable Means for any at that time to arrive to the certain Knowledge of the True Faith was to hear and submit to the Doctrine deliver'd by Those that were thus sent to Preach and Teach it This is the way by which the Christian Religion was first planted in the World and by this it has been ever since maintain'd The same Pastors and Overseers that were to teach the Gospel having another part of their Charge viz. To stand up in case of any Difficulties or Divisions arising in Point of Faith and by their Decision to put an end to the Controversie So to preserve Unity amongst the Faithful and defeat all the attempts of Turbulent and Presuming Spirits This Method of Pastors and Teachers directing and feeding and the Obligation of the Flock to Submit and Obey as necessary for continuing One Faith amongst Believers he has learnt to be Reasonable and of Divine Institution from the Practice of the Apostles For he finds Acts 15. that a Controversie being started at Antioch concerning the necessity of Circumcision 't was not left to every Particular Believer to think and decide the matter as they judge fit according to the best of their Knowledge and Parts neither did Paul and Barnabas with other Overseers of the Church of Antioch undertake to define any thing in this Particular No what was the Common Concern of all Christians was not to be determin'd by the Rulers and Pastors of any Particular Church but as belonging to All 't was to be remitted to the Consideration and Decision of Those who had All under their Charge that is the Pastors of the Vniversal or Catholic Church And thus did Paul and Barnabas for going up to Jerusalem the Cause was committed to the Hearing and Sentence of All the Apostles and Elders assembled at Jurusalem And as 't was determin'd by Them thus in Body 't was receiv'd by the Faithful with consolation not only at Antioch but in all other Places wheresoever the Gospel of Christ was preach'd by the Apostles who as they went through the Cities deliver'd them the Decrees for to keep that were ordain'd of the Apostles and Elders who were at Jerusalem Act. 16. 4. This was the Practice of the Apostles as it stands recorded in Holy Writ providentially there describ'd that their Successors the Rulers and Pastors of the Church in future Ages from this Authentic President might be provided of a Means whereby to maintain a Vnity in Faith amongst all True Believers however spread throughout the different and divided Nations of the Universe and know how to give a check to all growing Schisms and Heresies As therefore the Apostles put a stop to this Debate concerning the Circumcision by determining in Council in what manner the Faithful were to be taught were to believe and do in this Particular and by this Determination preserv'd the Vnity of Spirit in the Bond of Peace amongst the Faithful and prevented the many Divisions which otherwise might have torn the Flock asunder had they been every one lest to their own thoughts to judge of it as they pleas'd In like manner did the Pastors of the Church succeeding them in their Charge in the like Circumstances for when there appear'd any entring in among the Flock as was foretold by St. Paul Act. 20. 29. and like grievous Wolves not sparing it but speaking Perverse things to draw away Disciples after them The Overseers who were to feed the Church of God and commanded by the same Apostle to Watch and take heed to all the Flock ib. v. 28. assembled in Council and by their Determination declar'd to all under their Charge the Faith deliver'd and directed them which way to believe as to the Point in debate This was the Practice of the Primitive Church when as yet acknowledg'd Pure and Vncorrupted Thus did the Pastors then in the First General Council at Nice decide the Controversie rais'd by Arius thus they did in the Second at Constantinople in the Third at Ephesus in the Foutth at Chalcedon The Faithful always receiving with great Veneration the Determination of their Pastors thus Assembled and looking upon this Submission to their Doctrine as the most Reasonable Means whereby